Adjustable handsaw construction

ABSTRACT

A handsaw including a handle having a first telescoping member thereon, a beam having a second telescoping member on one end thereof cooperating with the first telescoping member, the handle and beam carrying means for holding a blade therebetween, and first and second longitudinally spaced apart stop members mounted on the handle in association with the first telescoping member for engaging the second telescoping member so that the handsaw may be quickly adjusted to accommodate two different lengths of saw blades by engaging one of the first and second stop members with the second telescoping member. Means for orienting the first and second telescoping members are also provided.

reier June 27, 1972 [54] ADJUSTABLE HANDSAW CONSTRUCTION [72] Inventor: Raymond C. Dreier, 3450 N. Lakeshore Drive, Chicago, Ill. 60657 [22] Filed: Jan. 11, 1971 211 Appl. No.: 105,539

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,941,558 6/1960 Dreier ..I45/34R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Great Britain 145/34 R Primary Examiner-Robert C. Riordon AssistantExaminer-Roscoe V. Parker, .Ir. AttorneyPrangley, Clayton, Mullin, Dithmar & Vogel [57] ABSTRACT A handsaw including a handle having a first telescoping member thereon, a beam having a second telescoping member on one end thereof cooperating with the first telescoping member, the handle and beam carrying means for holding a blade therebetween, and first and second longitudinally spaced apart stop members mounted on the handle in association with the first telescoping member for engaging the second telescoping member so that the handsaw may be quickly adjusted to accommodate two different lengths of saw blades by engaging one of the first and second stop members with the second telescoping member. Means for orienting the first and second telescoping members are also provided.

7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUHN m2 SHEET 2 0F 2 ADJUSTABLE I-IANDSAW CONSTRUCTION This invention is directed to an improved handsaw in which two telescoping members and two stop members cooperate to enable quick adjustment of the handsaw to accommodate two different lengths of saw blades.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a handsaw quickly adjustable to accommodate two different lengths of saw blades, the handsaw comprising a handle having a first telescoping member thereon, a beam having a second telescoping member on one end thereof cooperating with the first telescoping member, a leg on the other end of the beam extending therefrom in use in the same direction as the handle and carrying on the outer end thereof a first blade holding means, a link pivotally mounted at one end thereof upon the handle and carrying on the other end thereof a second blade holding means, means for adjusting the position of the other end of the link so as to move the second blade holding means toward and away from the first blade holding means, and first and second longitudinally spaced apart stop members mounted on the handle in association with the first telescoping member for engaging the second telescoping member, each of the first and the second stop members being movable between a use position in which the stop member is in position to engage the second telescoping member and a disengaging position in which the stop member is out of position to engage the second telescoping member, the first stop member in the use position thereof holding the first and the second telescoping members to accommodate a first length of saw blade, the second stop member in the use position thereof holding the first and the second telescoping members to accommodate a second length of saw blade, whereby the handsaw may quickly be adjusted to accommodate one of two different lengths of saw blades by engaging one of the first and the second stop members in the use position thereof with the second telescoping member and thereafter the adjusting means may be operated to adjust the distance between the first and the second blade holding means to tension the saw blade held therebetween.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a handsaw of the type set forth in which a first orientating member is carried by the first telescoping member, a second orientating member is carried by the second telescoping member, the first and the second orientating members cooperating in use to position the first and the second telescoping members so that the leg and the handle and the link all extend in the same direction.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following specification considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is an elevational side view of a handsaw embodying the principles of the present invention, wherein the saw blade is tensioned and ready for use;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the right-hand portion of the handsaw illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional side view of the handsaw illustrated in FIG. 2 taken along the line 33 thereof;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the handsaw illustrated in FIG. 3 taken along line 4-4 thereof;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the right-hand portion of the handsaw illustrated in FIG. 3 showing the second telescoping member in position to accommodate two different lengths of saw blades; and

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the handsaw illustrated in FIG. I viewed along line 6-6 thereof.

Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings there is disclosed an adjustable handsaw 100 including a handle 110 having a first telescoping member 111, a second telescoping member 190 and a leg 200 extending angularly from the front of the second telescoping member 190. The first telescoping member 111 is generally tubular in shape and has at the forward end thereof a cylindrical collar 112 with opposed longitudinally rearwardly extending bosses 113 extending from the collar 112 rearwardly toward a rear dome-shaped back end 115 of the handle 110. The elongated bosses 113 accommodate, as particularly seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, opposed longitudinally extending grooves 114, all for a purpose hereinafter explained.

Axially aligned and longitudinally spaced apart on the handle 110 are a first stop member and a second stop member 140. The first stop member 120 is mounted between a pair of parallel and laterally spaced apart front ears 116 supporting therebetween a shaft 123 carrying the stop member 120, the stop member 120 extending through a slot 124 in the telescoping member 11 1 ofthe handle 110, all as best seen in FIG. 5.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 5, the first stop member 120 has a knurled portion 126 along the exposed periphery thereof and a first abutment surface 127, and moving in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 5, a second abutment surface 128 and a third abutment surface 129 are provided. Cooperating with the abutment surface 127 on the first stop member 120 is a first abutment surface 131 on the first telescoping member 111, the abutment surface 131 being positioned adjacent the right-hand edge of the slot 124, and cooperating with the second abutment surface 128 on the first stop member 120 is a second abutment surface 132 on the first telescoping member 111 adjacent to the left-hand edge of the slot 124 therein, all as seen in FIG. 5.

The second stop member is mounted between a pair of parallel and laterally spaced apart rear ears 117 supporting therebetween a shaft 143 carrying the stop member 140, the stop member 140 extending through a slot 144 in the telescoping member 111 of the handle 110, all as best seen in FIG. 5.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 5, the second stop member 140 has a knurled portion 146 along the exposed periphery thereof and a first abutment surface 147, and moving in the counterclockwise direction all as viewed in FIG. 5, a second abutment surface 148 and a third abutment surface 149 are provided. Cooperating with the abutment surface 147 on the second stop member 140 is a third abutment surface 151 on the first telescoping member 111, the abutment surface 151 being positioned adjacent the right-hand edge of the slot 144, and cooperating with the second abutment surface 148 the second stop member 140 is a fourth abutment surface 152 on the first telescoping member 111 adjacent to the left-hand edge of the slot 144 therein, all as seen in FIG. 5.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is further provided a generally C-shaped portion 155 of the handle 110, the portion 155 having a grip 156 formed of a web 157 of reduced thickness bounded on the edges thereof by laterally extending flanges 158, the laterally extending flanges 158 being connected by a bottom flange 159.

Mounted on the left-hand end of the handle 110 near the collar 112 is a pair of parallel, spaced apart depending ears 165, the ears having a rounded portion 166 and forming a slot 167 therebetween, all as best seen in FIG. 6. Positioned between the depending ears 165 in the slot 167 is a link 168 pivotally mounted between the ears 165 on a spindle 169. The link 168 is generally triangular in shape, as seen in FIG. I, and as may be seen in FIG. 6, is provided with a narrow end 172 where it extends between the depending ears 165 and a broad or wide end 173 on the portion thereof away from the ears 165.

The wide end 173 of the link 168 has mounted thereon a cylindrical boss 175 having at the rear end thereof an elongated threaded aperture 176, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 6. An adjustment screw 178 having a front end 177 extends through the elongated threaded aperture 176 and rearwardly therefrom to a second cylindrical boss 185 mounted on a pair of rearwardly extending legs 181 leading from the ears 165 to a bridging portion 186 connecting the flat flange 159 of the C- shaped portion 155 with the depending ears 165.

The adjustment screw 178 has mounted in the center thereof an adjustment member 180 in the form of a knurled wheel which serves to provide adjustment of the link 168 as hereinafter set forth. The adjustment screw 178 is oppositely threaded on the portions thereof between the knurled wheel 180 and the cylindrical boss 175 and the cylindrical boss 185. Similarly, if the adjustment screw 178 is not oppositely threaded then the elongated threaded aperture 176 in the boss 175 may be threaded oppositely from the elongated threaded aperture (not shown) in the boss 185 in order to provide for fine adjustment, as will hereinafter be explained.

The second telescoping member 190 is a tubular beam having an abutment surface 191 on the right-hand end thereof, as seen in FIG. 5, and is provided with a dowel pin 193 extending through two aligned apertures 194 in the right-hand portion of the second telescoping member 190 which cooperates with the first telescoping member 111 of the handle 110. The second telescoping member or beam 190 having the dowel pin [93 mounted therein fits within and is slidable with the first telescoping member 111, the dowel pin 193 extending beyond the periphery of the beam 190 and fitting within the grooves 114 formed by the elongated bosses 113 on the handle 110. It is noted that the diameter of the collar 112 is sufficiently large to accommodate the passage therethrough of the dowel pin 193, the front end of the elongated bosses 113 joining the collar 112 thereby to provide easy access for the dowel pin 193 into the grooves 114 formed by the elongated bosses 113, and to align in use the first telescoping member 111 with the second telescoping member 190.

As particularly seen in FIG. 1, the left-hand end of the beam 190 fits within a cylindrical boss 201 and collar 202 mounted on one end of the leg 200. The leg 200 is generally L-shaped and includes a web portion 205 of reduced thickness bounded on each side thereof by laterally extending flanges 203 and 204.

A first blade holding means 210 is mounted on and carried by the distal end of the leg 200 and includes an apertured portion 211, a hingedly connected, as at 212, clamping portion 213 and a retaining member 214 connected to the clamping portion 213 and extending through the apertured portion 211. The clamping member 210 is more fully disclosed in my copending U.S. Pat. application, Ser. No. 105,341, filed on Jan. 1 l, 197 l for: BLADE HOLDER, which application is incorporated hereinto by reference.

There is further provided a second blade holding means 220 mounted on .an extension 179 of the cylindrical boss 175, all forming a part of the link 168. The second blade holding means 220 includes an apertured portion 221 and a hingedly connected, as at 222, clamping portion 223, the clamping portion 223 carrying a retainer member 224 thereon. The blade holding means 210 and 220 function to hold a saw blade 230 therebetween, the saw blade 230 may be positioned in the plane as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6 or may be rotated 90 therefrom by adjustment of the respective blade holding means 210 and 211, all as explained in my previously mentioned co-pending patent application.

In operation, the handsaw 100 is quickly adjustable to accommodate two different lengths of saw blades 230 by simple operation of the first stop member 120 or the second stop member 140 in a manner to be described.

Operation of the first stop member 120 and the second stop member 140 is the same, whereby the various positions of only the stop member 120 will be described for the sake of brevity. Stop member 120 has a use position as illustrated in FIG. wherein the third abutment surface 129 thereof is positioned within the slot 124 in the first telescoping member 111, thereby to place the third abutment surface 129 in position to engage the abutment surface 191 of the second telescoping member 190. When the third abutment surface 129 is in position to engage the second telescoping member 190, the second abutment surface 128 of the stop member 120 engages the second abutment surface 132 of the first telescoping member 111 to prevent further rotation in a counterclockwise direction of the stop member 120, whereby to hold the first telescoping member 111 of the handle 110 in fixed relationship with the second telescoping member 190.

When it is desired to move the first stop member 120 to the disengaged position thereof, the second telescoping member 190 is moved to the left, as viewed in FIG. 5, to allow rotation of the stop member 120 in a clockwise direction until the first abutment surface 127 thereof engages the first abutment surface 131 on the first telescoping member 111, thereby to put the stop member 120 out of position to engage the second telescoping member 190 and to allow movement of the telescoping member toward the rear of the handle and into engagement with the second stop member 140 in order to accommodate a different sized saw blade 230.

Saw blades 230 of essentially two different sizes are accommodated by the handsaw 100 and the loading thereof into the handsaw 100 is the same whether the stop member or the stop member is in the use position thereof to hold the telescoping members 111 and 190 in a fixed position relative one to the other. When loading a saw blade 230, the appropriate stop member, such as stop member 140, is rotated to the disengaged position thereof, as seen in FIG. 5, and the second telescoping member 190 is moved to the right of that stop member until the distance between the first blade holding means 210 and the second blade holding means 220 is smaller than the length of the saw blade 230 by an amount sufficient to accommodate operation of the respective clamping portions of the blade holding means 210 and 220.

When the blade 230 is firmly clamped by the clamping portion 213 of the first blade holding means 210 and the clamping portion 223 of the second blade holding means 220, the second telescoping member 190 is moved to the left until the stop member 140 may be rotated in a counterclockwise direction to position the third abutment surface 149 thereof within the slot 144 in position to engage the abutment surface 191 of the second telescoping member 190. At this time, the second abutment surface 148 of the stop member 140 engages the fourth abutment surface 152 of the first telescoping member 111 to prevent further counterclockwise rotation of the stop member 140, thereby preventing further movement toward the rear of the handle 110 by the second telescoping member 190, whereby the first telescoping member 111 and the second telescoping member 190 are held in the position illustrated in FIG. 3.

Because saw blades 230 of the same general length may not be identical in length, there is need for tensioning of the saw blade 230 between the blade holding means 210 and 220. The adjusting member may be rotated in one direction to pivot the link 168 about the spindle 169 thereby to move the blade holding means 220 toward blade holding means 210 to lessen the tension in the saw blade 230 or the adjusting member 180 may be rotated in the other direction to pivot the link 168 about the spindle to move the blade holding means 220 away from blade holding means 210 to increase the tension in the saw blade 230. The telescoping members 111 and 190 in cooperation with the stop members 120 and 140 provide the major adjustment to accommodate saw blades 230 of basically two different lengths.

It will be observed that there has been provided an improved handsaw having a first telescoping member thereon, a beam having a second telescoping member on one end thereof cooperating with the first telescoping member, and first and second longitudinally spaced apart stop members mounted on the handle in association with the first telescoping member for engaging the second telescoping member embodying all the objects and advantages set forth herein. While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all the modifications which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A handsaw quickly adjustable to accommodate two different lengths of saw blades, said handsaw comprising a handle having a first telescoping member thereon, a beam having a second telescoping member on one end thereof cooperating with said first telescoping member, a leg on the other end of said beam extending therefrom in use in the same direction as said handle and carrying on the outer end thereof a first blade holding means, a link pivotally mounted at one end thereof upon said handle and carrying on the other end thereof a second blade holding means, means for adjusting the position of the other end of said link so as to move said second blade holding means toward and away from said first blade holding means, and first and second longitudinally spaced apart stop members mounted on said handle in association with said first telescoping member for engaging said second telescoping member, each of said first and said second stop members being movable between a use position in which said stop member is in position to engage said second telescoping member and a disengaged position in which said stop member is out of position to engage said second telescoping member, said first stop member in the use position thereof holding said first and second telescoping members to accommodate a first length of saw blade, said second stop member in the use position thereof holding said first and second telescoping members to accommodate a second length of saw blade, whereby said handsaw may quickly be adjusted to accommodate one of two different lengths of saw blades by engaging one of said first and second stop members in the use position thereof with said second telescoping member and thereafter said adjusting means may be operated to adjust the distance between said first and said second blade holding means to tension the saw blade held therebetween.

2. The handsaw set forth in claim 1, wherein said second telescoping member fits within said first telescoping member and is slidable with respect thereto.

3. The handsaw set forth in claim 1, wherein said first and said second stop members are rotatably journaled on said handle for rotation between the use positions and the disengaged positions thereof.

4. The handsaw set forth in claim 1, wherein said first and said second stop members are axially aligned on said handle.

5. A handsaw quickly adjustable to accommodate two different lengths of saw blades, said handsaw comprising a handle having a first telescoping member thereon, a beam having a second telescoping member on one end thereof cooperating with said first telescoping member, a leg on the other end of said beam extending therefrom and carrying on the outer end thereof a first blade holding means, a link pivotally mounted at one end thereof upon said handle and carrying on the other end thereof a second blade holding means, means for adjusting the position of the other end of said link so as to move said second blade holding means toward and away from said first blade holding means, a first orientating member carried by said first telescoping member and a second orientating member carried by said second telescoping member, said first and second orienting members cooperating in use to position said first and second telescoping members so that said leg and said handle and said link all extend in the same direction, and first and second longitudinally spaced apart stop members mounted on said handle in association with said first telescoping member for engaging said second telescoping member, each of said first and said second stop members being movable between a use position in which said stop member is in position to engage said second telescoping member and a disengaged position in which said stop member is out of position to engage said second telescoping member, said first stop member in the use position thereof holding said first and second telescoping members to accommodate a first length of saw blade, said second stop member in the use position thereof holding said first and second telescoping members to accommodate a second length of saw blade, whereby said handsaw may quickly be adjusted to accommodate one of two different lengths of saw blades by engaging one of said first and second stop members in the use position thereof with said second telescoping member and thereafter said adjusting means may be operated to adjust the distance between said first and said second blade holding means to tension the saw blade held therebetween.

6. The handsaw set forth in claim 5, wherein said first orienting member is a pair of opposed longitudinally extending grooves in said first telescoping member, said second orienting member is a pair of opposed projections carried by said second telescoping member, said projections in use fitting within said grooves thereby to orient said first telescoping member with respect to said second telescoping member.

7. The handsaw set forth in claim 5, wherein said first orienting member is a pair of opposed longitudinally extending grooves in said first telescoping member extending from a point adjacent to the front end thereof to a point disposed between said first and said second stop members, said second orienting member is a pair of opposed projections carried by said second telescoping member, said projections in use fitting within said grooves thereby to orient said first telescoping member with respect to said second telescoping member. 

1. A handsaw quickly adjustable to accommodate two different lengths of saw blades, said handsaw comprising a handle having a first telescoping member thereon, a beam having a second telescoping member on one end thereof cooperating with said first telescoping member, a leg on the other end of said beam extending therefrom in use in the same direction as said handle and carrying on the outer end thereof a first blade holding means, a link pivotally mounted at one end thereof upon said handle and carrying on the other end thereof a second blade holding means, means for adjusting the position of the other end of said link so as to move said second blade holding means toward and away from said first blade holding means, and first and second longitudinally spaced apart stop members mounted on said handle in association with said first telescoping member for engaging said second telescoping member, each of said first and said second stop members being movable between a use position in which said stop member is in position to engage said second telescoping member and a disengaged position in which said stop member is out of position to engage said second telescoping member, said first stop member in the use position thereof holding said first and second telescoping members to accommodate a first length of saw blade, said second stop member in the use position thereof holding said first and second telescoping members to accommodate a second length of saw blade, whereby said handsaw may quickly be adjusted to accommodate one of two different lengths of saw blades by engaging one of said first and second stop members in the use position thereof with said second telescoping member and thereafter said adjusting means may be operated to adjust the distance between said first and said second blade holding means to tension the saw blade held therebetween.
 2. The handsaw set forth in claim 1, wherein said second telescoping member fits within said first telescoping member and is slidable with respect thereto.
 3. The handsaw set forth in claim 1, wherein said first and said second stop members are rotatably journaled on said handle for rotation between the use positions and the disengaged positions thereof.
 4. The handsaw set forth in claim 1, wherein said first and said second stop members are axially aligned on said handle.
 5. A handsaw quickly adjustable to accommodate two different lengths of saw blades, said handsaw comprisinG a handle having a first telescoping member thereon, a beam having a second telescoping member on one end thereof cooperating with said first telescoping member, a leg on the other end of said beam extending therefrom and carrying on the outer end thereof a first blade holding means, a link pivotally mounted at one end thereof upon said handle and carrying on the other end thereof a second blade holding means, means for adjusting the position of the other end of said link so as to move said second blade holding means toward and away from said first blade holding means, a first orientating member carried by said first telescoping member and a second orientating member carried by said second telescoping member, said first and second orienting members cooperating in use to position said first and second telescoping members so that said leg and said handle and said link all extend in the same direction, and first and second longitudinally spaced apart stop members mounted on said handle in association with said first telescoping member for engaging said second telescoping member, each of said first and said second stop members being movable between a use position in which said stop member is in position to engage said second telescoping member and a disengaged position in which said stop member is out of position to engage said second telescoping member, said first stop member in the use position thereof holding said first and second telescoping members to accommodate a first length of saw blade, said second stop member in the use position thereof holding said first and second telescoping members to accommodate a second length of saw blade, whereby said handsaw may quickly be adjusted to accommodate one of two different lengths of saw blades by engaging one of said first and second stop members in the use position thereof with said second telescoping member and thereafter said adjusting means may be operated to adjust the distance between said first and said second blade holding means to tension the saw blade held therebetween.
 6. The handsaw set forth in claim 5, wherein said first orienting member is a pair of opposed longitudinally extending grooves in said first telescoping member, said second orienting member is a pair of opposed projections carried by said second telescoping member, said projections in use fitting within said grooves thereby to orient said first telescoping member with respect to said second telescoping member.
 7. The handsaw set forth in claim 5, wherein said first orienting member is a pair of opposed longitudinally extending grooves in said first telescoping member extending from a point adjacent to the front end thereof to a point disposed between said first and said second stop members, said second orienting member is a pair of opposed projections carried by said second telescoping member, said projections in use fitting within said grooves thereby to orient said first telescoping member with respect to said second telescoping member. 